Dear Valued AustCham Members,
March has been a month of significant milestones and meaningful connections for our chamber, highlighted by our well-attended AGM and March Sundowners at the Anantara Siam. This event marked an important transition as we welcomed both returning and new Board members, demonstrating the continued strong interest in our networking initiatives and the commitment of our members to AustCham’s governance.
I am delighted to announce our Board election results, with Donnah Ciempka, Joana Button, and Matthew Cutt returning to the Board alongside welcome additions Brendan Cunningham, Yan Xu, and Drew Franklin. The leadership continuity is particularly noteworthy, with myself returning as President, Jon Cannon and Joanna Button continuing as Vice Presidents, and Matthew Cutts maintaining his role as Treasurer. This stability ensures that AustCham’s established practices and careful stewardship will continue for another year.
At this time, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Michael Mir and Saj Iqbal for their dedicated service on the board throughout 2024. Their contributions have been invaluable to AustCham’s success. I also acknowledge all additional candidates who put themselves forward for election, demonstrating their commitment to our chamber.
Key Highlights of the Month
March was filled with valuable initiatives including our “Unleash: Discover, Connect & Lead” event at the Australian Ambassador’s residence to commemorate International Women’s Day. This special gathering brought together extraordinary female leaders who shared personal journeys, engaged in meaningful conversations, and explored new professional and personal growth possibilities.
On March 12th, I had the privilege of attending the Future Skills Mission hosted by Austrade and the Australian Embassy, focusing on fostering transnational education opportunities between Australia and ASEAN nations. This mission provided valuable insights into potential partnerships for the Chamber and opportunities to develop a platform for more diverse educational member collaborations.
Throughout the month, we’ve continued our commitment to SMEs with the AustCham SME Day on February 26th and the SME Coffee Morning on AI-Powered Content Creation on March 13th. Our Digital Insights Webinar Series on March 4th further enhanced our members’ digital expertise.
Bangkok Earthquake Response
As many of you experienced, Bangkok was struck by a significant earthquake on Friday, March 28th. Our thoughts are with all those affected throughout the region. In response to this challenging event, AustCham Thailand is proud to support a special fundraising initiative through Intrepid Travel to provide assistance to those most impacted. We encourage all members to contribute what they can to this important cause. Details about how to donate and what your contributions will support can be found on our website. During difficult times like these, our community’s strength and generosity truly shine through, and we thank you in advance for your support.
Looking Ahead
The new Board of Directors will convene for our strategic planning retreat on Monday, April 21st, to establish specific directions and focus areas for the upcoming year. This important session will set the course for AustCham’s activities and initiatives over the next twelve months.
As we move into April, we have more exciting events ahead. Our goal remains to ensure that AustCham continues to be strong, sustainable, and future-ready, with a continued focus on our core pillars: Business, Connections, and Community.
Thank you for your ongoing support and participation in our activities—it truly means a lot! We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events as we continue to strengthen business connections between Australia and Thailand, drive trade and investment opportunities, and advocate for our members.
Warm regards,
Donnah Ciempka
President, AustCham Thailand
